Details for Guitar Hero 4 Released

GameSpot is reporting that details for Guitar Hero 4 have been released. The biggest news seems to be that the new release will be adding drums and vocals a la Rock Band. The new drums are to offer three pressure-sensitive pads (which can tell if you are just tapping or really wailing), two elevated cymbals, and a pedal. "The details in Game Informer also clear up the mystery surrounding the 'innovation' which Activision promised was coming to the Guitar Hero series in a recent earnings report conference call. The article outlines the game's studio mode, which will give users a variety of ways to create their own songs. Players will be able to jam along with one of the game's existing tracks, record songs as they're played, or meticulously detail note charts."

Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[by Anonymous Coward]

I must be the only one, but I never understood why people (and gaming society as a whole) goes ape-shit over this game?

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[Karma Sink (229208)]

Because it's an amazing rhythm game that gives a vague impression of playing awesome guitar riffs.

In turn, playing awesome guitar riffs is one of the most bad-ass feelings in the world. There are just few things that are cooler than pulling off anything on a guitar, really.

It's basically DDR for people who don't like dancing and don't want to put in as much physical effort to play. And, of course, for people who like to rock.

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[naoursla (99850)]

Technically, Guitar Hero, GH2 and RB are amazing rhythm games that give you a sense of playing awesome guitar riffs.

GH3 is a rhythm game that gives you a sense of mashing buttons on a guitar shaped piece of plastic while listening to music.

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[NeilTheStupidHead (963719)]

This is directed towards Rock Band, but applies equally to Guitar Hero: http://xkcd.com/359/ [xkcd.com]
We're having fun and not hurting anyone so kindly fuck off.

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[by Anonymous Coward]

On the whole, it's not as fun as tonguing another man's balls. I mean as it used to be. I'm NOT GAY.

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[uhlume (597871)]

Heh. Lest you get troll-modded into oblivion by people who missed the reference, here's a link to the Zero Punctuation review of GH3:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2716-Zero-Punctuation-Guitar-Hero-III [escapistmagazine.com]

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[NotBornYesterday (1093817)]

My two sons and their friends played GH3 a lot (prior to GTA4, that is). When I would mention that there were a couple real guitars and a foundation-shaking amp down in the basement, all I ever got were funny looks. Man, I would have killed to have an electric guitar as a kid. But like others have said, it's easier to play a game than it is to grow some talent. I've tried it, and I've got to admit, it's fun.

On the other hand, getting semi-competent on a guitar really isn't that hard, either. Power chords are easy. 1-4-5 chord progressions are easy. Spend a little time memorizing a couple riffs, and you can make some remarkably satisfying noise.

Sounding great is hard. Sounding okay is easier than it looks.

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[Karma Sink (229208)]

Yes, and Medal of Honor is for pussies who don't want to go fight Nazis.

Video games exist to give you experiences that you normally wouldn't be able to get in real life without years of training or superhuman powers. Why is it that guitarists get so pissy about Guitar Hero when I never hear any space marines complaining about Metroid?

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[gEvil (beta) (945888)]

Why is it that guitarists get so pissy about Guitar Hero when I never hear any space marines complaining about Metroid?

And therein lies the genius of making Samus a female. ; )

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[geekoid (135745)]

Ironically, the people I know who whine about this aren't Guitar players.

It's just a fun game when you pick up a gun, steal a car and beat hookers, but it's a crime against humanity when someone pretends to play a guitar.

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[somersault (912633)]

Agreed. I'm a guitar player, and I thought it was lame until I played it. Then I just realised how much fun it is!

I can't wait til the drums and stuff are added, as I'm also a drummer, and it will make practicing much more fun and varied (I have an electronic kit but I never make time to use it). Simulating drums is pretty easy so at least the drummers definitely can't whine :) At the very least games like Guitar Hero are good for improving your rhythm and coordination.

Re:nope

[amRadioHed (463061)]

I hereby predict that Guitar Hero 11 will come with a real guitar and that gamers will think it's the coolest thing ever.

They will also declare that Guitar Hero 4 is lame and only for little kids and posers.

Re:nope

[DeathCarrot (1133225)]

I've been playing the guitar for nigh on a decade (I've just turned 21) and I absolutely adore Guitar Hero, as does a guitarist friend of mine. To most people I know Guitar Hero isn't about pretending you're a rock star, it's just a game, no different to WoW or the FPS du jour.

Granted, if someone comes up to me boasting how their 5* on expert Cliffs of Dover was more of an accomplishment than being able to play the same song on a real guitar, they really do deserve a slap. One takes 8 months to reach a suitable level of proficiency, the tends to take more than 8 years.

Re:nope

[siride (974284)]

Maybe I don't want to learn how to play the guitar, but I do want to have some fun? Is that allowed? Or does everything I do have to be a fucking chore?

Re:nope

[siride (974284)]

No. Life is a mix of passionate exertion, love and recreation. Sometimes, you just have to have fun and it doesn't have to be this great work of skill or talent. That's all. Elsewhere in my life I most certainly apply myself greatly and am justly rewarded. I don't, however, care to do that with a guitar. But Guitar Hero is fun all the same and I don't think you can fault me for occasionally coming home from work and playing a couple of songs I like on a stupid game.

Re:nope

[xero314 (722674)]

I want people to go out and have real experiences that aren't limited by a machine, or set of rules.

He says on an internet forum...

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[Anonymous Cowpat (788193)]

that has got to be the fastest that we've achieved Godwin on such an uncontrovertial topic!

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[aztektum (170569)]

a girl i know has a 9 year old son who recently began guitar lessons. he became interested after playing Guitar Hero. also, i'm sure guitar hero doesn't not help with practical guitar skills (chord changes, strumming), but this kid seems to have picked up a good deal of skill when it comes to rhythm and tempo thanks to the game. he's actually rocking ass on a real guitar compared to others in his guitar class.

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[bogjobber (880402)]

It also helps with hand/finger strength. One of the hardest parts of beginning at guitar is only being able to move your fingers quickly and hold chord shapes for the first fifteen minutes before getting tired. If you were good at guitar hero, you should already have a lot of the muscles developed to progress more quickly.

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[morari (1080535)]

http://www.guitarrising.com/ [guitarrising.com]

;)

Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero

[Omestes (471991)]

It's a stupid party game, and thus damn enjoyable. You get music (can't lose, there), interaction (its a party, thus the point), and look like a bigger fool when your drunk (party, natch). I don't think anyone has the preconception of actually being a guitar god while playing it.

Play Rock the 80's, and tell me your not having fun?

At my last party is was on rotation with Mario Kart Wii, and Smash Brothers Brawl. Mario Kart isn't for people who fail at NASCAR, and Brawl isn't for aspiring Chuck Norrises, so why should Guitar Hero be for the Jimi Hendixes among us? Its about imagination, and fun. Not about realism or some idiotic version of elitism.

Learn to have fun.

They didn't like my idea...

[Mordok-DestroyerOfWo (1000167)]

I thought with the success of Guitar Hero, the world would be ready for the obvious next step. Say hello to Jug Hero. It comes with washtub bass, spoons, jug, and a washboard. You spend your time going around the south playing in various redneck bars. When you start to get behind in a song, just tip your jug for special moonshine power!

Re:They didn't like my idea...

[Rod Beauvex (832040)]

Yeah, you go in the south and do that. You'd have the living piss beat out of you.

Re:They didn't like my idea...

[geekoid (135745)]

I see you have managed that well known southern sense of humor.

My little brother

[electrosoccertux (874415)]

He stopped playing GH3 2 weeks ago, and it has been the most peaceful 2 weeks in months.

Thank you, Activision, now I will have to listen to his voice too.

Good Move.

[morari (1080535)]

All good news. I just wish that developers would stop giving the PS2 any thought and instead focus on making the Wii version the best it can be. I'd hate to see another enhanced PS2 port on the Wii. I suppose though that even if it does come down to that, at least it won't be as butchered as the Wii version of Rock Band. Activision has already shown that they're willing to at least tailor a majority of the game to the Wii's strengths. It does have the best guitar, after all.

Re:Good Move.

[Blahbooboo3 (874492)]

All good news. I just wish that developers would stop giving the PS2 any thought and instead focus on making the Wii version the best it can be. I'd hate to see another enhanced PS2 port on the Wii. I suppose though that even if it does come down to that, at least it won't be as butchered as the Wii version of Rock Band. Activision has already shown that they're willing to at least tailor a majority of the game to the Wii's strengths. It does have the best guitar, after all.

Sure, why not just ignore the 103 million PS2s out there?

What about....

[by Anonymous Coward]

...Guitar Villain?

Sounds like a much more fun game.

Bass?

[by Anonymous Coward]

No one ever wants to be on bass :-(

Re:Bass?

[KnightNavro (585943)]

That's because they're scaly and slimy. Trout are better.

so no important information then?

[Anonymous Cowpat (788193)]

like what tracks it's going to have.

There's a copy of Guitar Hero III at home and apart from maybe half a dozen tracks it's just noisy crap that blocks up the TV.

Here's hoping that Guitar Hero IV has some proper stuff, like most of The Shadows back catalogue, in it.

Keytar Hero

[prockcore (543967)]

It's a shame they don't add synths so you could do keytar hero.

Hell, I have a usb synth, they should add the ability.

What's this?

[Khyber (864651)]

"meticulously detail note charts."

Oh, so they're copying Frets on fire, I see.

Stealing the Credit

[DrGamez (1134281)]

When Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3 both came out I was excited. On one hand Rock Band was really pushing the "genre" forward, by making one of the most fun party games I've ever played. On the other hand, Guitar Hero 3 was pandering to the score-heads, those hoping to full combo a song with perfect bonus star power paths and everything. The only downside to this was Rock Band hasn't been selling as well because of the name. Harmonix did a great job of getting Guitar Hero popular, and now that they had to drop the name it hurt them.

To describe Rock Band most people will go with the, "It's like Guitar Hero but..." route - which leads some to believe Guitar Hero might be the better and Rock Band is a cheap knock-off novelty. But now that Activision has seen the light they are doing their own full Rock Band ensemble game. This means to describe Guitar Hero 4, everyone is using the, "It's like Rock Band but..." line.

Hopefully this leads to many more people seeing that Harmonix knows how to make rhythm games, and perhaps Activision should stick with what the do "best".

(Also if Tony Hawk or Bam Margera is unlockable in Guitar Hero 4 I'm going to lose it)

I will not buy two frigging drumsets.

[Seor Jojoba (519752)]

I got Rock Band and all the instruments that come with it. Harmonix was gracious enough to let you use the GH guitar in Rock Band. I don't see why the hell Activision can't let us plug in Rock Band instruments into their game. Particularly lame to change the drumkit in one tiny little way (add one extra pad) to "improve" it. It is stupid to buy new hardware with every music game out there. It wastes money and living room space.

Re:I will not buy two frigging drumsets.

[xero314 (722674)]

Harmonix was gracious enough to let you use the GH guitar in Rock Band.

What? You can use your GH guitars with Rock Band? I guess you don't have a PS3 and had to watch Activision actively block the release of a patch that would have solved the issue. It was big news, but not big enough to get on slashdot, no matter how high it was voted in the fire hose.

Big deal...

[jonwil (467024)]

Let me know if they actually decide to get some DECENT music...
How can they make 7 games in the series (6 if you dont count the Aerosmith one) and not have a single AC/DC song (for those who dont know, AC/DC are the best ever Australian band when it comes to playing guitars, drums and rock music fast and loud)

IMHO...

[RogueWarrior65 (678876)]

What's heroic about playing a guitar? Man, our society is going down the drain. There's an obscenely large sign on I-40 in Oklahoma proclaiming the town of Muskogee as the hometown of Carrie Underwear, American Idol 2005. Tax dollars paid for that sign (never mind the tax dollars to maintain it). WTF?!?!

Guitar Freaks - Konami

[Haoie (1277294)]

This game series did what GH did years before GH came out. Yet it gets next to no recognition, and few people have even ever heard of it.

You saw it here, folks. Look it up for more details.

Oh lovely,

[Amy Grace (1205236)]

as if life in a basement suite isn't bad enough with Rock Band. Now there's going to be a whole new selection of shitty radio rock for my upstairs neighbors to sing to.

PS To my upstairs neighbor: You have a voice that only a mother could love. Please stop trying to sing "Say it Ain't So", it hurts everyone involved.

The Logical Extention of This Is...

[abolitiontheory (1138999)]

Rock Band 2 To Include Real Instruments.

"Tired of being locked to a screen and playing pre-recorded songs on second rate equipment? Well no longer! With Rock Band 2 you can create your own, ORIGINAL music! People have been waiting for this for literally _CENTURIES_, and now it can finally be yours. Supporting multiplayer with up to 4 people, your power-chord pals and you can begin ascending the tower of real life Rock and Roll with Rock Band 2: Real Life Rock. (Talent not included.)"

NO MORE INSTRUMENTS!

[Alzheimers (467217)]

That's it, I'm officially not getting this.

Rather, I'm not cluttering my house with one more redundant plastic add-on.

I ALREADY OWN A SHITTY PLASTIC DRUM SET.

I don't need my house looking any more like the set of Jack's Big Music Show [tottvwatch.com]

Get off your high horse and support the rock band drumset, or get the fuck out.

Yeah because I want TWO..

[inotocracy (762166)]

..of these big ass plastic drum sets sitting in my living room. I really hope the makers of Rock Band find a way to make use of GH4's drum set (or vise versa). I just can't picture two of these things taking up space, and I'm sure as hell too lazy to drag it out from a closet every time I feel like banging away on a fake drum set.

Should be better hardware

[Snowspinner (627098)]

The marriage of Harmonix and Red Octane was always a great designer of rhythm games and a great hardware engineering company.

The thing is, good game designers are more common than good hardware engineers - especially because the best hardware engineers tend to get scooped up by companies that don't do game design (Apple, Microsoft, Logitech) or are Nintendo. The result was that Activision got the rare talent, and EA got the more common talent. And so, while Rock Band was a better game than Guitar Hero III, I have to say, I never once enjoyed playing the guitar in Rock Band just because there wasn't the sense of bracing haptic feedback that the GH controller gave. And while GH3 had more utterly obnoxious riffs than Rock Band, it always felt more fun to play for me. (I also fundamentally like the interface better on Guitar Hero - the circles, to my mind, are much easier to visually scan up the screen than the raised bumps of Rock Band)

The knowledge that Red Octane is going to pursue drums (and possibly other instruments) makes me even more inclined towards the Guitar Hero series.

Re:I already own Rock Band, thank you

[DevNull Ogre (256715)]

How many plastic instruments do these guys really expect me to buy?

That's a good point. My wife instantly disliked Mario Kart (while watching the preview on Nintendo Channel on our Wii) because of the wheel. She hated the idea of yet another thing to find a place for. I don't think four Wiimotes, two nunchucks, a zapper, and a guitar are a problem at all. But if I came home adding a plastic drum kit to that collection, I don't think she'd let me in. (At least the balance board that's on preorder will slide under the couch.)

Re:I already own Rock Band, thank you

[Elsapotk421 (1097205)]

Rock band has the experience but they lack the quality songs.

Re:Frets on Fire 1.2.512 (GPL) is superior!

[compro01 (777531)]

FYI, it also works (far better, IMO) with a guitar controller.